Taking a break from Dostoevsky, I thought I'd share the origin of one of my favorite "words that used to mean something completely different".
"Nice" nowadays is often used to refer to something mildly pleasant or a person who is generally kind; according to the Oxford English Dictionary, however, nice means:
Isn't that nice?
1. A foolish or simple person; a fool.
a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 4725 Fulofte he faileth of his game That wol with ydel hand reclame His hauk, as many a nyce doth.
a1425 (1400) Chaucer Romaunt Rose 5043 If it be ony fool or nyce, In whom that Shame hath no justice.
or
2. More fully Nice biscuit. A thin, sweet biscuit containing coconut and sprinkled with sugar.
1895 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 5 Biscuits.‥ Nice.
Isn't that nice?
